48 comments:

Hello!I don't know if you are able to reveal any details or not, but I have to say Knights of Doom is long overdue for reprinting by Wizard (and maybe a little editing by you beforehand ;-) ). So what's the story? Will it ever be taken up by them, after all they have re-released both Curse and Spellbreaker and Tony Hugh's artwork has already been printed by Wizard too, notably with his new illustrations for Bloodbones. Have Wizard given any specific reason for not releasing Knights (yet) or is it as much of a mystery for you?Mat, investigating on behalf of the Unofficial Fighting Fantasy Forum! :-)

When interest was shown in re-publishing Curse of the Mummy, Steve was also keen to do Knights of Doom. I did a mini-edit for both books, but there's only so much you can do without changing the overall structure of the book, which wasn't an option with these.

Then someone made the point that the first Ruddlestone book was Spellbreaker and so it was decided to go with that one first...

Then talk of the re-launch started and talk re-printing old books was put on a back-burner.

At this stage, as far as I am aware, there are no plans to reprint Knights of Doom. To be honest, if the option was to write new material or reprint Knights of Doom, I would rather actually write new material, mainly because I feel I'm a better (i.e. fairer) gamebook writer now and although I love the atmosphere of Knights of Doom there's a lot wrong in terms of game play.

Hi Jon,Yes it does indeed and I would agree with you on all points. Although the set pieces in Knights of Doom are very well written in my opinion and exciting, quite a large portion of the adventure is very hard going, especially for a character with average stats - you have no chance! I also look forward to new material more than reprints, but that's being said as someone who has the original run of FF adventures anyway. It just seems a shame to leave out one book from your FF work; the completest inside me starts surfacing every so often wanting a reprint to sit nicely with the other Wizard editions!However, I don't thing any long-term FF fan (especially the hardcore - Hi everyone ;-) ) would disagree that, if the news the next adventure on April 1st was going to be Knights of Doom or Night of the Necromancer, the latter as new material will be anticipated a lot more!Thank you for taking time out (again) to answer my questions :-)Mat.

Despite all the problems KoD could have as far as playability si concerned, I admit I wouldn't mind a reprint of this book instead of another reprint limited to Livingstone and Jackson's books; maybe it's impossible to see it for the first part of 2010, cause we already know which books are going to be republished, but why not to propose it for the end of the year or the beginning of 2011?

I take it you're Larni. If that's the case I got the name from you on the FF discussion boards. (I apologise - I didn't realise you were of the male persuasion - hence the female hunter/huntress... whatever!)

It was one of the homages to my supporters over at the FF site.

You'll find a few others in Stormslayer too. As well as Larni, there's Vastarin (as in Vastariner), Sylas, Mataeus (who's also replied to this post) and... I think that's it.

Hi Jon,I am trying to figure out how writers go about writing a gamebook, maybe you can offer some insight? Do you start with one winning path and then spot brancing opportunitues, create those and then start filling in gaps? Or do you map it out entirely in advance? Or do you map some paths and then fill?Any insights would be really appreciated!Kaj

Hi anew jon ! A last message from kinor. In two years it will be the 30' s birthday of ff books release. Do you intent for this special event to write a huge 800 paragraphs ff adventure as for the crown of kings from steve jackson (this could also be a good idea ! ).

Ian livingstone might write a new ff adventure ? It would be a good thing for a talented author because his last "eye of the dragon " was very "middle". Concerning steve jackson 's books i meant 3 of them were really great (the masterpieces "house of hell" and "creature of havoc",plus "appointment with fear" which was very original ).at last jon, what do you think about the rumour which comes and goes on ff websites from fans about the possibility for "legend of zagor" to be a keith martin 's work ?

Hi Jon! Love the FF series and your work. There is a question at the end of this post...

I've noticed that there is a marked difference for the better between your original series works (Knights of Doom, spellbreaker, Curse of the Mummy) and Howl of the Warewolf, Stormslayer and Night of the Necromancer. I think Bloodbones falls more in the first group.

The originals had very difficult fights and sometimes relied on combat a lot more. The new versions rely more on making choices and the combats are very fair.

You have taken on board feedback about the old books you wrote to make the combats more fair. What else have you intended to change about your gamebooks over time?

I'm glad you think that there's a marked difference for the better between my original series works and the new Wizard titles.

I like to think so too. The reasons are varied. Firstly, I have very much taken on board feedback about the old books. Also, I was 20 when I wrote Spellbreaker (you can read elsewhere about the arrogance of youth) and I'm now 38. I like to think I have a slightly different outlook on life.

For one, I'm not so concerned with proving to everyone how clever I am at defeating the cheats. My primary intention now (beyond that of earning a living) is to entertain. If a book is unfair or ridiculously hard then it won't entertain - simple as that.

One of the other things I've very consciously changed about my gamebooks is the 'one true path' to completion approach. This was always the way when the first FF books appeared in the 80s, but now - with the development of the games console - when people finish a game they want to play it again to uncover unlockables or try different routes. That's something else I've intentionally tried to put into the gameplay of my more recent FF adventures, and it would appear to have paid off.

When I was teaching I was writing one or two books a year, usually late into the night and at weekends or during school holidays.

In the end, I took the decision to jack in the day job. Writing doesn't pay half as well (quite literally) but, other than for the money, every else in my life has improved as a result of that one (very hard) decision.

What about your next ff adventure? You told me a few months ago that it would take place in a high security prison.can you tell us more about it and when you will release it ?And what about an eventual 800 paragraphs adventure for the 30th birthday of the ff books release in 2012 ? Is this project will come true?Sorry for my mistaken deleted last message jon.I hope that this time i 'll be able to see your answer on the screen !

Thank you for your answer about the impossible (unfortunately) release of a 800 paragraphs ff book (too sad !).I hope that you'll prepare a surprise for us in 2012 so as to consolate us ! (May be the high security prison (great) project ? ).I just wanted to ask you a question jon : how long do you take, in general, to write a ff adventure ?

Thank you for your answer about the impossible (unfortunately) release of a 800 paragraphs ff book (too sad !).I hope that you'll prepare a surprise for us in 2012 so as to consolate us ! (May be the high security prison (great) project ? ).I just wanted to ask you a question jon : how long do you take, in general, to write a ff adventure ?

Just wanted to say Howl of the Werewolf was excellent. For a while I've been biased towards some of the earliest books in the FF series (esp. Steve's Sorcery!), but H.O.T.W. is a modern classic, among the best, superbly written in all aspects. I especially like your use of multiple options and allowing the reader to go back & try different routes/possibilities as opposed to the 'go west & that's it, you're dead' phenomenon too common in the earliest books. You found the perfect balance between challenging & fair, and an engaging & very cool story too.Thanks for the great work!

I would like to say thanks for you having written the Knights of Doomot. I loved it that part, when down I had to fall in front of the "ghost". What a perdect idea!It is very typical of people unfortunately, how it cannot be accepted and to confess their mistakes, and they make their apologies only when he comes to light together back up.Its almost a perfect book, i think.You do not have a mood once more to arouse Belgarothot? I will be very happy, because according to me he the evil written in one of the best ones.Egyébként van most egy új könyvre ötleted?

I remarked that in most of your ff adventures we can find three common subjects : one fight at the first or the second paragraph (spellcaster,curse of the mummy, bloodbones, hotw,notn ), sectators (spellcaster,curse of the mummy... ), and a bestiary on one specifical theme (werewolf,bear werewolf...in hotw, mummy, snake mummy...in curse of the mummy ). Is it a will of your part (and why ?) and will you use them again in your next ff adventure ?

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I am a freelance writer and editor, well known for my contributions to the Fighting Fantasy range of adventure gamebooks. I have also written for such diverse properties as Sonic the Hedgehog, Doctor Who, Star Wars and Games Workshop's worlds of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000.
I am the creator of the alternative steampunk universe of Pax Britannia, and have written eight novels featuring the debonair dandy adventurer Ulysses Quicksilver.
As well as my fiction work, I have also written a number of non-fiction books including 'Match Wits with the Kids', 'What is Myrrh Anyway? Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas' and 'YOU ARE THE HERO - A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks'.